Bugatti Type 35

Bugatti Type 35
The most successful racing car in automotive history
Bugatti is one of the most legendary car names in Europe. The model Type
35, which won over 2,000 races in the 1920s, is considered to be the most
successful racing car in automotive history. This Bugatti, the sky blue twoseater with the horseshoe-shaped radiator grill and rear end that comes
to an aerodynamic point, was built from 1924 to 1930. In its day, it was
the only car that took part in races and was allowed in street traffic. Even
today, this car does all that it was made to do: run races, provide fun, and
thrill spectators. But how did the car come by its color, which soon became
the color of all Bugatti T35 Grand Prix race cars? If an anecdote is to be
believed, it was Ettore Bugatti’s wife, Barbara, who held her sky blue pack
of Gitanes cigarettes up next to the car and thus determined its color.
The racing car was built with motors of varying power. The strongest was
135 HP in the Type 35 B, followed by the Type 35 Targa Florio with 100 HP.
A total of 300 cars of this type were built, a negligible number for us today
that contributes to making this car special. And as soon as a blue Bugatti is
sighted, it always attracts attention.
Bugatti is one of the most legendary car names in Europe.
The model Type 35, which won over 2,000 races in the 1920s, is considered to be
the most successful racing car in automotive history.
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Whoever takes a ride in a Bugatti Type 35 today can still count on
driving discomforts like there used to be. Private drivers piloting
the open car still cower behind the wood-riveted steering wheel
wearing racing overalls to protect against grime and oil and thick
goggles to protect against flying rocks and insects. They take sight
of the next curve through the tiny windshield. Despite being so
cramped and spartan in the cockpit, it is still a lot of fun.
The motor used to have to be cranked to be started, but today the
Type 35 has the luxury of a starter battery. This is turned on, the
fuel tap is opened and the pressure in the tank is built up with a
hand pump. When driving at full speed, it is the job of the passenger
to pay attention that the fuel pressure doesn’t get too high. With the
ignition turned on, retard the timing lever, and, with a push of the
starter button, the eight cylinders roar to life.
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With a weight of only 750 kg, the car is able to master every exertion
effortlessly. This can’t be said of the two people sitting in the car. They
both have to work hard. Without power steering, the driver has to fight
the wheel on the curves and give gas when shifting between gears to
increase the RPM so the unsynchronized gears can readily mesh. The
passenger must brace himself in the fast curves to keep from flying out
of the car. There are no doors, bucket seats or safety belts. Those are
all modern inventions.
After a couple of hundred kilometers you hardly still notice how loud,
hot and cramped it is in the open two-seater. Lurking beneath the long
hood that is bounded tightly with leather straps is the eight-cylinder
motor that is making a deafening racket. Situated between the driver
and the passenger is the gear tunnel, which gets hotter and hotter
while driving. Leaning on it isn’t recommended, even if there is a great
temptation to do so in the very cramped cockpit.
Many of the cars from back then are still around today. Some were
damaged in races or were altered to keep pace with the ever stronger
competition. However, certain conditions must be met in order to
speak of an original Bugatti. The chassis, which is the heart of each
and every Bugatti, must match the chassis number on the delivery
papers from the factory in Molsheim, as do the axel, transmission and
motor. Also essential in speaking of an original is a complete, unbroken history. This has an impact on the price, as well. Just recently an
original Type 35 B compressor was sold for around $3.5 million.
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Photographed by Otto H. Schulz
The Bugatti in the photos, a sky blue Type 35 A Grand Prix,
fulfills all these conditions to be considered an original. This
magnificent vehicle was built in 1927 and imported to South
America by a certain Mr. Matarazzo, a dealer in Sao Paulo.
The Pangaro brothers were already using this Bugatti in
1927 in races in Argentina.
Even the cast aluminum wheels with integrated brake drums,
a sensation at the time, are original with this eight-cylinder
Grand Prix. The customs export documents dated 1927 from
Bugatti, Molsheim, still exist and every previous owner can
be named, and there is even documentation on all repairs.
Because without the so-called paper trail, the “Garage Gold”
won’t gain its lustre. This Bugatti fulfills all those conditions,
making it officially an original, of which there are precious
few today.
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The proud owner of this car also drove it in the Mille Miglia
2015, a classic car race loved by many. Today it is first and foremost the drivers who have fun being there and taking part. And
it should be mentioned that Bugattis still regularly win this race.
The motto used to be don’t polish it, drive it and always keep it
technically perfect. This tradition out of Molsheim still holds
true today.
Erika Tanner
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